William f



(No Model.)

W. F. JOHNSTON.

DEVICE FOR ATTAGHING STAMPS, SEALING LETTERS, &c. No. 602,806. PatentedApr. 19, 1898.

UNITED STATES Fries.

ATENT WILLIAM F. JOHNSTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSlGNOR OFONE-HALF TO ROSOOE WALTON, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR ATTACHING' STAMPS, SEALlNG LETTERS, ac.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,806, dated April19, 1898. Application filed June 5, 1897. Serial No. 639,621. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inDevices for Attaching Stamps, Sealing Letters, and the Like, of whichthe following isa specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in devices forattaching stamps, sealing letters, and the like, and has for its objectto provide a simple, cheap, and effective device by means of whichmoisture may 1 5 be applied to stamps and the same forced into contactwith the surfaces to which they are to be attached, and also to applymoisture to the sealing-flap of an envelop and hold the same in firmcontact with the remainder of the envelop until it has become thoroughlysealed thereto.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and

2 5 then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in 0 detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of my improvement, illustrating the usethereof; Fig. 2, a

central vertical section of the device in its normal condition; Fig. 3,an enlarged end view of the moistening-tube when removed from the case;Fig. 4, a section of the moistener in active position, and Fig. 5 abottom 0 view of the completed device.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied I provide a presser-lockA,which may be of any convenient or desired shape, preferably havingfiat surfaces B thereon for the easy grasping by the hand, as shown inFig. 1, and this block is hollow and has a slot C in its otherwiseclosed end. The reservoirtube D is adapted to fit within the block andslide vertically therein and is held against retraction and rotation bythe screws E, which pass through the block and project within thegrooves F, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Coil-springs G are interposedbetween the bottom of the block and the lower end of the tube, thusnormally holding said tube in an elevated position, and these springsare prevented from displacement by means of the lugs H and I.

Formed in the lower end of the reservoirtube is a passageway J, which isrectangular in cross-section, and within this is fitted the moistener K,which consists of a conveyer L, having a spring-plate M projectingupward therefrom and to a considerable distance Withinthe passage J, theupper end of said plate being inturned, as clearly shown, so as to bearagainst one wall of this passage. Within the conveyer are secured thefeed-strips N, of any suitable fabric, and between these strips isplaced a sponge or other absorbent material O, the lower end of thefeed-strips projecting beyond the lower end of the conveyer and thusforming the flexible foot P, by means of which the moisture fed downwardto this point may be applied to the desired surface. The lower end ofthe passage-way has one of its walls inturned, as indicated at Q, theobject being to normally prevent the downward How of water by the actionof the spring-plate M, which will hold the conveyer tightly against thisint-urned portion Q, thus compressing the feed-strips at this point andpreventing the passage of the moisture.

A rubber tube R is stretched around the nioistener and extends upwardupon the walls of the passageway, as clearly shown, the object of whichis to prevent leakage and also to avoid transmitting moisture to thehands or other objects that may come in contact with the sides of themoistener, and this tube 0 will also assist in holding the moistener inits normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, and this tube will prevent thedeflecting of the moistener when in use.

WVhen the moistener is in its normal posi- 5 tion, the water willreadily flow down through the passage-way to the point Q, when it willbe prevented from further downward flow until the moistener isdeflected, as shown in Fig. 4, when an opening will be formed at thispoint and permit the water to gain access to the sponge O or otherabsorbent material 10- cated between the feed-strips,by which means themoisture will be conveyed downward to the foot P automatically at everyoperation of the device, as will be readily understood.

The reservoir D is adapted to-be filled and closed by a screw-threadedcap S run upon the upper end of the reservoir-tube, which is therethreaded for that purpose.

In practice the device is grasped with the hand in such manner that theblock A is held firm, while the forefinger is placed upon the upper endof the reservoir-tube, after which it will be seen that the moistenermay be freely applied to the surface in either direction, after themanner of a brush, by simply forcing the tube downward until saidmoistener extends through the slot C, and after this has beenaccomplished the release of pressure upon the upper end of the tube willpermit it to be forced upward by the springs G, and then the bottomsurface of the block may be utilized as a presser to affix the stamps orseal the flap of the envelop or any otherlike purpose. From this it isobvious that stamps may be moistened and applied without removing thedevice from the hand, thereby greatly facilitating its operation as alsothe operation of sealing envelops, and when the device is not in use itmay be laid upon the desk Without fear of its injuring or interferingwith other objects, since the moistener is normally retracted within theblock, as shown in Fig. 2.

My improvement maybe made of any suitable material as well as of anydesign or size to suit the fancy of the manufacturer or user, and itscost is small, while its utility is exceedingly great.

As shown in Fig. 5, the flat surfaces 13 upon the sides of thepresser-block provide straight edges, which will facilitate the severingof stamps and the like by simply placing the presser-block upon onestamp of a series, so that the straight edge lies upon the dividingline,and then drawing away the remainder.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis- 1. In a device of the character described, a

reservoir-tube having a passage-way leading therefrom, an inturned edgeformed by one wall of the passage-way, a conveyer flexibly secured tothe tube, a spring-plate formed with the conveyer and'projecting intothe passage-way, and an absorbent material secured in the conveyer,substantially as set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, a reservoir -tube, aconveyer, a springplate formed thereon and projecting upward through apassage leading from the reservoir, feedstrips running through theconveyer, an absorbent material confined between the strips, and meansfor holding the conveyer in place, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described combination of the presser-block A, areservoir-tube fitted therein, means for forcing said tube upward, meansfor preventing the complete withdrawal of the tube from the block, amoistener consisting of a conveyer, a spring-plate projecting therefromwithin a passage-wayleading from the reservoir, feed-strips of fabricsecured within the conveyer and projecting into the reservoir, anabsorbent material arranged between the feed-strips, a foot formed bysaid strips, and a rubber tube stretched around the moistener,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with a device of the character described, a moistenerconsisting of a conveyer, a spring-plate formed with said conveyerandprojecting upwardwithin a passage-way leading from the reservoir, aninturned edge formed by one wall of the passage-way, feed-strips runningthrough the conveyer and projecting into the reservoir,absorbentmaterial confined between the strips, and a rubber tube stretched aroundthe moistener, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM F. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, SAMUEL L. TAYLOR.

